Frequently asked questions

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• How long has Wai Care been around?

  The Wai Care programme was launched in 2000 by the former North Shore, Auckland, Manukau and Waitakere City Councils and the Auckland Regional Council.  In 2004 the former Rodney and Papakura District Councils also joined Wai Care.

  The programme is now delivered locally and regionally by Auckland Council which provides co-ordinators to deliver the programme.  A Project Leader supports region-wide delivery of the programme.

• How do I get involved in Wai Care?

  You can either form a group (community or school), get involved as an individual or simply participate in one-off sessions.  Wai Care can visit your school or take you on a fieldtrip.  Contact your local coordinator for more information.

• How does the Wai Care programme run?

  Wai Care has a central Project Leader who oversees the delivery of the programme and the coordinators in each area.  Areas are split into North, South, Central and West.

  Wai Care coordinators provide ongoing support, education, awareness, action sessions and advice to Wai Care participants or people wanting to get involved in one off initiatives.  Find out more about what Wai Care does or Contact Us  to get involved.

• What is the difference between Watercare and Wai Care?

  Watercare Services Ltd is an organisation owned by Auckland Council and is responsible for supplying drinking water, treating wastewater and trade waste for the Auckland Region. Watercare also delivers the ‘Adopt A Stream’ programme to schools.

  Wai Care is a council programme that works to engage communities to work together to improve the health of the Auckland Region’s waterways and catchments.

• What other programmes does Wai Care link to?

  Wai Care works with many other organisations and programmes in the Auckland Region.  Some of these include Enviroschools, Adopt-a-Stream  and Project Twin Streams.

• What happens to the monitoring data that is collected?

  Data collected by groups is entered into the database on the Wai Care website.  The data is used in a variety of ways and includes looking at trends, identifying pollution events, submissions, presentations and school projects.  Data can be compared to data from other monitoring sites to add to the big picture of catchment health.  To check out monitoring data click here.

• Does it cost anything to become a Wai Care group?

  There is no cost to participate in the Wai Care programme and groups are resourced to carry out water quality testing and stream habitat assessments.  Testing equipment and access to a manual is provided, as is training in the use of the equipment and guidance on planning and carrying out a monitoring plan.

  Interested in getting involved in Wai Care?  Click here to register your interest

• Who do I contact if I think I have spotted pollution in or near a stream?

  Call the Pollution Hotline 09 377 3107 as soon as possible. Take some photos if you can. You should also contact your Wai Care co-ordinator. 

• I have forgotten how to do some of the water quality tests, what should I do?

  You can check out the Field Manual or contact your co-ordinator for a refresher.

• If the pH in my stream is neutral (7) does this mean that the water safe to drink?

  NO!  There are many other factors to consider such as water clarity and E.coli or Giardia which also might be present.  Never drink stream water.

• If I find a tolerant bug in my sample (1-3 WIMP {c7} score) does that mean the water quality is bad?

  Not necessarily. Bugs with low WIMP scores can be found in water with poor water quality but are also found in high quality water.

  If you ONLY find bugs with low WIMP scores i.e. no bugs with scores 5 – 10 are present, this would indicate that the water quality is poor. 

• What do macroinvertebrates eat?

  Some macroinvertebrates (bugs) graze on organic films (including diatoms) that grow on the streambed.  For example: snails and some mayflies 

  Other macroinvertebrates filter drifting food particles from the stream current, including small fragments of decomposing leaf litter, tiny invertebrates and even wastes of other invertebrates (Example caddisflies).

  Some are predators that catch live prey.  Example: Dragonflies and damselflies.

• Can eels live and travel overland?

  Eels are excellent climbers and can scale wet and rough surfaces to climb up waterfalls and damns.  Eels are also known to travel over stretches of dry land to reach ponds and pools cut off from other inland waters.  The land journeys are usually made at night, which is why we seldom see eels travelling on the ground.  During this time, eels breathe through their skin.  To find out more about our native fish click here. 

• What does riparian mean?

  Riparian refers to the banks or edges of watercourses (streams, wetlands, estuaries).  The trees and shrubs growing along the stream edge are important for maintaining stream health as they provide bank stability, shade and habitat.